United States ex rel. Phillips v. Henderson

334 F. Supp. 1101, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10464
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedDecember 8, 1971
DocketNo. 71-C-1451
StatusPublished

This text of 334 F. Supp. 1101 (United States ex rel. Phillips v. Henderson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States ex rel. Phillips v. Henderson, 334 F. Supp. 1101, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10464 (E.D.N.Y. 1971).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM and ORDER

BRUCHHAUSEN, Senior District Judge.

The petitioner, hereinafter called Phillips, now in State custody, applies, pro se, for a writ of Habeas Corpus and authorization to proceed in Forma Pauperis.

THE SUBSTANCE OF PHILLIPS’ CLAIMS FOR RELIEF

1. That his plea of guilty was not voluntary;

2. That his attorney, through false promises, inducements and misrepresentations pressured him into withdrawing his plea of not guilty and entering a plea of guilty.

The reason why this Court elaborates on this case is to demonstrate that in this court and in our sister Federal courts, too much of our time is consumed in frivolous applications.

THE PROCEEDINGS, CULMINATING IN HIS PLEA OF GUILTY AND SENTENCE.

On January 11, 1968, Phillips and others were indicted by a Nassau County Grand Jury for the crimes of Robbery, first degree; Grand Larceny, third degree and possession of weapons as felonies, committed on December 7, 1967.

On January 23, 1968, he pleaded not guilty.

He and three co-defendants moved for a hearing to suppress the search and seizure. It was held on August 28, 1968 and the motion was denied on October 16, 1968.

[1102]*1102The record on file in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office, contains a statement, signed by co-defendant, Audrey Lester, shortly after the robbery, implicating herself and Phillips in the robbery. At that time he also signed a similar statement.

On April 30 and May 1, 1969, a Huntley hearing was held before Hon. Harold M. Spitzer, County Judge. The said Audrey Lester, her attorney, Phillips and his attorney, James Dowling, attended and participated in the hearing. Audrey Lester was the first defendant to withdraw her plea of not guilty and to plead guilty to Robbery in the second degree. She agreed to cooperate with the authorities. Thereupon, Phillips offered to plead guilty as a youthful offender. Frank Dillon, Esq., an Assistant District Attorney, replied thereto, by stating that Phillips had a criminal record, i. e., that on April 14, 1964, he was arrested at Raleigh, North Carolina, for breaking and entry and on June 2, 1965, he was arrested in New Cassel, New York, and charged with Assault, first degree, with a gun and unlawful possession. On October 8, 1965, he pleaded guilty to an amended information and was adjudged a youthful offender. On October 21, 1965, he was sentenced to Elmira for a term, not to exceed three years. Mr. Dillon stated he opposed acceptance of the youthful offender plea. The Judge stated that he was ready to proceed with the trial, also, viz:

“Well, it appears to me he was on parole. * * * the application (for youthful offender treatment) is denied. * * * are we ready to proceed with the trial ?”

Colloquy ensued, whereupon Mr. Dowling requested an adjournment. A luncheon recess was then taken. Extracts from the record, are as follows:

“Mr. Dowling: Your Honor, it is the same application as this morning. Phillips will withdraw the plea of not guilty and plead guilty to robbery second * * *. No promises or representations have been made with respect to sentence, by the District Attorney * -* * or by the Court. * * *
“The Court: All right. Do you understand that, Mr. Phillips ?
“The Defendant: Yes, sir. * * * I am pleading guilty to robbery.
“The Court: Robbery in what degree ? The Second degree ?
“The Defendant: Yes.
“The Court: You understand you are charged with robbery in the first degree, do you not?
“The Defendant: Right.
“The Court: And you know that robbery .in the first degree is a more serious crime than robbery in the second degree?
“The Defendant: Yes.
“The Court: All right now, I want to know from you whether or not you were involved in this particular crime that is being charged here, this robbery of the Chicken Delight? * * *
“The Defendant: I was there when it happened. * * * Audrey Lester came over to my house * * * so we left from there * * * down to New Cassel * * * that’s where we met the other people * * * we started riding. So everybody want to make some money. * * * Somebody wanted to heist the joint, they wanted to take out something. So, we started riding. All of a sudden, we end up in Post Avenue Chicken Delight. Somebody says, ‘Heist the job’. * * * So, anyway, I goes and gets out of the car, the girl gets out, so, I goes down and joins with the girl in the Chicken Delight * * * she turned around and pulled a gun and said ‘This is a stickup’ * * * she gets the man and grabs him, gets the money. * * * I’m running down the street getting in the car. * * * “The Court: You recognize that you might be found guilty of robbery in [1103]*1103the first degree. Is that what you are saying?
“The Defendant: It is just what my attorney told me, Mr. Dowling. He say this is best for me, so I take this.
“The Court: You feel that it is in his best interest, Mr. Dowling ?
“Mr. Dowling: Yes, in reviewing the evidence in the suppression hearing and the Huntley hearing, as it progressed and my personal investigation which I caused, I feel that it is in the best interest of my client.”

Thereupon, the defendant withdrew his plea of not guilty and pleaded guilty to robbery in the second degree and June 12, 1969 was fixed for sentence.

AS TO PHILLIPS’ CLAIM OF MISREPRESENTATIONS MADE TO HIM BY HIS ATTORNEY.

Phillips’ attorney, James Dowling, submitted an affidavit to the said trial Court, dated July 21, 1969, the substance whereof is as follows:

Phillips was placed on the premises with a weapon in his hand. In addition thereto, he had previously given a statement to the police, which implicated him. Co-defendant Audrey Lester pled guilty and was prepared to testify concerning Phillips’ part in the robbery. In view of all this, Dowling advised him that if found guilty, he was subject to maximum sentences totalling 36 years, also that the District Attorney had offered to accept a plea of guilty to robbery in the second degree, calling for a maximum sentence of 15 years. Phillips agreed to accept the plea so offered. By letter, dated May 2, 1969, he requested Dowling to visit him for the purpose of withdrawing the plea. Several visits were made. Phillips wrote a letter to Dowling, dated May 8,1969, viz:

“Date May 8, 1969
“From Charles Phillips
“Addressed to
Name Mr. James W. Dowling Street & No. 233 Seventh Street Post Office Garden City, N. Y.
“Dear Mr. Dowling:
“I received the copy you sent me. I am very sorry that things worked out the way they did. The real reason I am writing is because I feel that I was very wrong to tell you that I didn’t trust you because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have told you certain things. I really did put a lot of trust in you because I am still here and not in prison; not yet anyway.

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Related

North Carolina v. Alford
400 U.S. 25 (Supreme Court, 1970)

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Bluebook (online)
334 F. Supp. 1101, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10464, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-ex-rel-phillips-v-henderson-nyed-1971.